A Bully in the Sandbox

In January 2006, the terrorist group Hamas won the 2006 Palestinian elections over the Fatah. They did this in part by hiding the fact that one of their main goals is to wipe Israel off the map. As a result of that election, Israel (along with the United States, the European Union, several Western states, and the Arab states) suspended the foreign aid upon which Palestine depends. Aid would not be restored until Hamas met the demands of (1) recognizing Israel, (2) accepting agreements made by the defeated Fatah regime, and (3) denouncing violence. Yeah, that soooo didn’t happen.

Despite the sanctions, Hamas leaders were able to smuggle enough into the Palestinian territories to maintain basic services. Obviously, or they all would have starved to death. Or become refugees. They certainly wouldn’t have been able to stay there unless they were able to get some sustenance.

In December 2006, bullish Hamas decided that they would do a better job controlling Gaza instead of the Palestinian police. By June 2007, Hamas had accomplished its goal through several rounds of brutal attacks, culminating in a four day long ambushe that gained them control of the Fatah outposts. Hamas was then in complete control of the Gaza Strip, a tiny piece of land tucked between Egypt and Israel.

Ever since then, Hamas has been launching attacks on Israel. Hamas is sitting in their corner of the sandbox, pissed off that Israel is playing right next to them in the sand that they believe should be theirs. In Hamas’ opinion, Israel needs to be kicked out of the sandbox and wiped off the map. As any mean but relatively weak bully would do, they have been throwing fistfuls of sand at Israel in the form of bombs aimed at civilian cities in Israel along the Gaza/Israeli border.

I’m not sure of the thinking on this one… were they just trying to annoy Israel out of the sandbox? Or did they want Israel to believe the small (yet still devastating to those involved) attacks were warnings? A year and a half is an awful long time for a warning of bigger attacks to come, if you ask me. Under either circumstance, last Saturday Israel finally became fed up with the sand throwing. Israel stood up, walked over to the bully Hamas, and punched him square in the nose. It wasn’t unprovoked, or even issued without warning. The day before, Israel warned Hamas that he had better knock it off, or he’d get punched in the nose.

So now the world is watching this battle in the sandbox between a bully and someone that actually stood up for themselves and said, “Stop it. I have as much a right to be here you. You will not destroy me, even though you attempt to. I will no longer tolerate your sand throwing.”

Yet for some reason, almost every msm news story I’ve encountered has somehow managed to paint Israel as the bully. They’ve conveniently managed to overlook the fact that Hamas wants Israel destroyed. Oh yes, of course, you should always feed the hand that bites you. You should always give aid and refuge to people who want nothing more in the world than to see you and your countrymen dead. *insert eye roll here*

I’m content to let Israel kick the terrorist Hamas out of the sandbox. I hope I get to see it happen.

Speaking of politics…. How has President Elect Obama responded to this crisis? Well, he went golfing today on his fancy-shmancy Hawaiian vacation. Interesting… I thought you couldn’t vote “present” as President, but apparently you can from the Office of the President-Elect.

A Tale of Two Shoes

During a news conference in Iraq this morning, President Bush was attacked by an Iraq reporter who threw his shoes at Bush. The man shouted, "It is the farewell kiss, you dog."

The President ducked and avoided being hit by the Iraqi man's shoes, which were chosen as projectiles because soles of shoes are considered the ultimate insult in Arab culture.

Of course the media is reporting, "The embarrassing incident marred a visit meant to show off the improved conditions since the troop "surge" dramatically reduced casualties to U.S. troops."

It seems to me that this proves the victory and triumph of the troop "surge" as only in a free society could an asshat like that get away with a such a shameful stunt.

Another Corrupt Chicago Politician? You Don't Say...

Notoriously corrupt Illinois politics got another notch in the scummy politician belt today. Democratic Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested this morning after allegedly attempting to sell the U. S. Senate seat that will be left vacant once Barack Obama is sworn in as the U. S. President.

Blagojevich was caught via wiretaps stating, "[the Senate seat]is a fucking valuable thing, you just don't give it away for nothing." He was also recorded saying that unless "I get something real good," he would appoint himself to the vacancy. "I'm going to keep this Senate option for me a real possibility, you know, and therefore I can drive a hard bargain. You hear what I'm saying. And if I don't get what I want and I'm not satisfied with it, then I'll just take the Senate seat myself." According to surreptitiously recorded conversations, Blagojevich spoke with associates about the possibility of trading the Senate post for either an ambassadorship or a Cabinet post.

Of course Obama responded to the situation with his predictable and expected, "I had no contact with the governor or his office and so I was not aware of what was happening...It’s a sad day for Illinois. Beyond that, I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment.”

Interesting. Especially since less than a month ago, on November 23, top Obama advisor David Axelrod told Fox News in an interview, "I know he's talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them."

Axelrod responded to the revelation uncovered by conservative pundits with his predictable and expected, "I was mistaken when I told an interviewer last month that the President-elect has spoken directly to Governor Blagojevich about the Senate vacancy." Obviously. *insert eye roll here*

It's well known that Obama owes a lot of people a lot of favors. You don't go from being a National Nobody to President within four years without a lot of help. I'm sure that Governor Blagojevich was one of those people. I don't know whether whatever political boost he gave to Obama's warp speed rise to the top was legit or corrupt, and frankly, at this point it probably doesn't matter. But something was revealed today, if you were watching closely...Many of us have been watching and waiting to see how Obama would attempt to pay back those favors, or if he would even try. I think that we now have our answer. Attempt to call in your favor from the new Prez, and you will be sorry.


I am currently undecided on whether this makes me like Obama more or less.

Incredible Story

I was just directed to this amazing story about a woman putting herself at tremendous risk to save the lives of others.

I am saddened and incredulous that she did not win the Nobel Peace Prize over the candidate that did win it...

I've Become an Addict

To Twitter!

Here's a great Twitter for Dummies post by another very cool Jen. Although she might be a tiny bit cooler if she were a Jenny like me, but I digress...

As if I needed yet another reason for my crackberry to become more firmly welded to the end of my arm, I now receive snippets from friends, politicians, and pundits I admire, leading me to interesting articles and blog posts, answering my questions, and generally keeping me informed.

This morning my husband laughed at me when he caught me at 6:30 am nestled under the warm blankets in bed, tippity-tapping away on my pink BlackBerry Pearl, checking on my Twitter before even getting up to pee.

What can I say? This tweetaholic needed her fix.